NORWICH ROAD CHARACTER AREA INTRODUCTION 1

The Norwich Road character area is a cluster of 19th century residential suburbs to the north west of Ipswich town centre, grouped around the roads leading westwards out of the town. It occupies low lying land to the north of the river, sloping upwards on its north east side towards Broom Hill and the town centre. The area divides into 2 character sub areas:

+ Bramford Road/Norwich Road + London Road/Norwich Road

The area developed rapidly in the 19th century along the roads leading from Barrack Corner, starting with a mix of house types along London Road. The mix of terraces and larger dwellings, many faced in Suffolk white brick, is a feature of the area.

Further west, red brick predominates and there is a clear hierarchy of terraced house types laid out along regular streets. The areas character is well preserved with few sites cleared for modern redevelopment.

This is one of the most accessible areas of Ipswich, served by major routes which support a mix of transport types. Away from the busy main roads the residential streets are quiet and provide a permeable layout of cross routes.

Streetscapes are often softened by front gardens, many of which retain their original brick walls and gatepiers. Within the rectangular blocks of housing the long narrow rear gardens have matured into attractive private spaces.

Picture: Typical late 19th century red brick terraced housing (Kitchener Road) NORWICH ROAD CHARACTER AREA HISTORY 2

History In common with most of Ipswich’s suburbs the area was agricultural until well into the 19th century, crossed by routes such as London Road, Bramford Lane and Norwich Road. The rural roads and lanes with scattered with farms and some larger houses such as Brooks Hall. The arable fields were interspersed with orchards and the clay pit excavations and kilns of brick works. Suffolk White bricks for much of the later housing construction may well have been fired locally.

The railway line, built by the Eastern Union Railway on an embankment, was opened in 1859. Its original bridges are intact – box girder constructions over Bramford and Norwich Roads (the latter with the ‘Ferodo’ advertising logo), an arched brick structure over Bramford Lane.

The arrival of the railway provided the impetus for the town’s expansion in the second half of the 19th century, and the Norwich Road area is a particularly well preserved example of suburban housing constructed during this period.

Picture: Brooks Hall, c.1910. This historic house survived until after the first world war, when the site was cleared to make way for Valley Road. Ipswich Town FC played in open fields near the house until 1878/88 when the club moved to the Portman Road site. The Inkerman pub provided changing facilities for the players. The firemen in the image may be part of a fund raising parade. The Norwich Road area in 1926 (Ordnance Survey map) NORWICH ROAD CHARACTER AREA HISTORY 3

AA Gibbons flour mills on Benezet Street, Further west, on more level ground, larger areas c.1920. These mill buildings remain intact; of land were sold off by owners such as the important local landmarks and rare surviving examples of 19th century agricultural Sherrington family for development into streets enterprise. The tall structure in the background of red brick terraced housing. The precedent for is a concrete silo, since demolished. the more organised parcelling of land for residential use had been established some years earlier by the Freehold Land Society, in their highly successful venture in the California area.

Development of the Norwich road area was assisted by proximity of the town centre, and the existence of public transport connections – from 1898, for instance, the Ipswich Omnibus Service offered a ‘Penny Omnibus’ service from Bramford Road to Wherstead.

Construction took place before the existence of The earliest building took place on the higher modern planning controls, so there was no ground near Barrack Corner, at the edge of the masterplan to guide development. Instead, historic town centre. Property developers speculative builders tried to anticipate market started with prestigious house types; at the top demand and it is this which dictated the of London Road, for instance, the Crescent and character of residential street layouts. Variety in Wellington Terrace are in the grand style more the streetscape was created by churches, typical of the earlier 19th century. chapels, school buildings and corner shops. Nearby, Clarkson Street is on a more modest scale but the ornamental treatment of doorways and window openings show that this was also intended as middle class housing.

Cavalry Barracks. This imposing building stood OS map (1883) showing the piecemeal nature of speculative development in the grid of new streets between Chevallier Street at the top of a rectangular parade ground, Houses at the junction of Norwich Road and All Saints Road, c.1912 and present day. Now converted into shops, these substantial late and Brookeshall Road. Note the position of the original All Saints approximately where Geneva Road and Cecil 19th century houses are a good example of the local pattern of residential development. They also demonstrate how adaptable the area’s church – now the church hall. Road are now located. urban form can be, without the need for comprehensive redevelopment. NORWICH ROAD CHARACTER AREA TRANSPORT AND ACCESS 4

Transport and access Good road connections are a feature of the area. Important roads leading westwards out of the town centre are connected by straight streets and the inner ring road intersects with the major routes. On-street carparking is an effective informal traffic calming feature, although it has been necessary in some places to block through access, for instance in the Rendlesham Road area.

The pedestrian and cycle environment is less successful, partly because of the busy traffic environment and the lack of width on primary routes. The riverside cycle path provides an alternative route westwards from the town centre, but on-road facilities (particularly along Norwich Road) require further improvement.

Broom Hill Road. Well proportioned streets and clear sightlines are a feature of the area.

Prospect Street. Selective road closures can create pedestrian friendly areas, though they also tend to reduce legibility and permeability. NORWICH ROAD CHARACTER AREA OPEN SPACE 5

The dense residential layout and busy road Biodiversity network excludes areas of public green space. Norwich Road character area contains little Rear garden plots, however, are generous and green space, but there are important these have developed into mature green areas biodiversity resources at its edges: Bramford with some tree planting . A number of rear Lane allotments, Sherrington Road Park and garden areas have been redeveloped for Broomhill Park to the north and Alderman Park additional housing or industrial uses. The loss of and Local Nature Reserve and the River Gipping green space in this area is significant and should to the south. Two key wildlife corridors also link be resisted where possible. into the area: the Alderman Canal and the Felixstowe/Lowestoft railway line. Front gardens provide an attractive green edge to some streetscapes, though in others the only The largest biodiversity resource within the area visible greenery is a distant glimpse at either end itself is concentrated within the significant areas of the street. Where modern development takes of private gardens. The value of gardens to place, shallow front gardens should be provided wildlife has been identified on the ecological so that the strong street line is maintained whilst network for Ipswich as they provide both habitat providing space for planting. and transport links for wildlife to live in and move within the network. Any future reduction in The planting of street trees can be problematic the size or number of gardens would result in a because of lack of space both above and below net loss of biodiversity and reduced ground. Where traffic control or other measures effectiveness of the ecological network. Any create paved pedestrian spaces and new development planning should take this into opportunities, new tree and landscaping planting account. In addition, opportunities for must be considered. enhancing the biodiversity value of homes and gardens should be promoted, e.g. Swift and Bat features, wildlife-friendly planting, fencing with gaps for hedgehogs and so on.

Dillwyn Street West. NORWICH ROAD CHARACTER AREA LANDFORM AND VIEWS 6

The regular street layouts frame long Lamdmark buildings perspectives, but only two structures (the tower 1 Ipswich International Church of All Saints, Chevallier Street and the spire of the Ipswich International Church) rise above the 2 Burlington Road Baptist Church rooflines of surrounding buildings to form 3 38-44 London Road attractive landmarks. The opportunity exists for development within the area or in adjacent 4 71-76 London Road streets to form new landmarks, but these should 5 Former flour mill, Benezet Street be carefully scaled and detailed so as to complement the domestic scale of the character 6 Rose and Crown (former) area. 7 Cumberland Tower 8 Ipswich County Record Office (former Views Gatacre Road primary school) a Valley Road – view of All Saints tower 9 All Saints church b Gatacre Road – view of All Saints tower 10 Springfield Junior School c Surrey Road – view of All Saints tower 11 Bramford Road Methodist church d London Road – view of Ipswich International Church tower

London Road. The International Church (1870, Grade II listed, Architect Frederick Barnes) is a local landmark. In the foreground, Burlington Road Baptist Church, 1875, locally listed. Architect Brightwen Binyon.

Landform and views Although the underlying landform rises towards the north eastern edge of the character area, there are few views within its boundary. The dense pattern of development and relatively narrow streets constrain viewlines. NORWICH ROAD CHARACTER AREA URBAN ANALYSIS 7

The urban streetscape is defined The Masons pub, Victoria by active frontages and a Street. Small businesses contribute to the permeable network of routes. streetscene and are an Legibility, however, is undermined important part of the areas by a lack of landmarks - it is easy character. to get lost in a grid of streets with few distinctive features.

Modern infill development has often ignored the traditional pattern of development in the area. There are, however, examples of new build terraced housing and this pattern of development, maintaining active frontages to the street, should be continued. NORWICH ROAD CHARACTER AREA CHARACTER SUB AREA - LONDON ROAD/NORWICH ROAD 8

The development of the Norwich Road suburb began with 1 2 speculative housing on the edge of the historic town centre. The focus of early construction - around the middle of the 19th century - was Barrack Corner, an important meeting point of routes leading westwards out of Ipswich. At the time, this junction was dominated by the Horse Barracks, built in 1795 as a permanent base for the cavalry. The classical influence of the Barracks can be seen in the design of The Crescent and Wellington Terrace at the top of London Road, and in the Suffolk white brick detailing of the terraced housing on Clarkson Street.

3 4 1 The Crescent, London Road. This imposing terrace is in a transitional style between the classicism of the earlier 19th century and the more picturesque style of the Victorian period.

2 London Road. Middle class housing, second half of the 19th century. The Victorian detailing – bays, dormers, decorative roof tiling – is used with confidence, though the use of brick for the architectural detail over doors and windows is unusual.

3 Victoria Street. Although some original details have been 5 lost such as the sash windows, the painted render finish and shaped gables at either end of this terrace create a distinctive street frontage.

4 London Road/Victoria Street. Fine detailing is often preserved in perimeter walling and gatepiers.

5 Waterloo Road. The tower of All Saints church on Chevallier Street is a local landmark. The houses are good examples of later 19th / early 20th century design, with distinctive ‘Arts and Crafts’ details such as decorative tiling and terracotta plaques. NORWICH ROAD CHARACTER AREA CHARACTER SUB AREA - LONDON ROAD/NORWICH ROAD 9

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The transition to the decorative Victorian style of building can be traced in the building materials, from Suffolk White brick in Clarkson Street to the ornamental use of ‘rustic’ materials such as flint cobbles. This eclectic mix can be reflected in the design of modern development, though deliberate contrast has to be balanced by careful scaling and detail. 1 County Records Office, Gatacre Road. Formerly Bramford Road Board School, built in 1888, this landmark building has been adapted The transition to the style of the later Victorian colour contrasts and carving on stone window to house the County Records Office and Sir period is visible in the housing further down and door lintels. A stone plaque often shows the John Mills theatre. The modern buildings are large but sensitively integrated into the site. London Road. Still targetting an upper middle date of construction. Many of the houses have class market, these houses make use of bay narrow front gardens enclosed by brick walls 2 Cumberland Tower, Norwich Road. The scale windows, decorative gables and dormers and with piers. and detailing of much postwar housing in the mixed construction materials; red brick with area is less successfully integrated. Although some grassed areas and tree planting have been stone dressings, red brick and terracotta, red The combination of active frontage overlooking created, the lower density layouts, blocked brick and flint. It is important that these early the street and garden planting is an attractive roads and set backs from historic streetlines suburbs are conserved and protected as far as one, and new development should reflect the tend to undermine legibility and permeability. possible from demolition and unsympathetic existing layout as far as possible. Modern and 3 Norwich Road shopping area. The design of alteration. contrasting designs can of course be made to Coes sore shows how modern design which work in this setting, but street frontages should respects the scale and streetline can be More typical of the Norwich Road character area continue to be the focus of building frontages; successfully incorporated into the streetscape. are the connecting streets between the main avoid unnecessary setbacks from the streetline, 4 Benezet Street. Modern housing successfully roads, lined with smaller red brick terraced or building layouts which turn inwards. integrated with the existing streetscape. houses. Decorative detailing is limited to brick NORWICH ROAD CHARACTER AREA CHARACTER SUB AREA - BRAMFORD ROAD/NORWICH ROAD 10

On the lower ground north of the river the principle roads 1 spread out in a trident pattern. Within this triangular space 2 - formerly fields and orchards - terraced streets laid out in the later 19th century connect the main roads and form an irregular grid of large rectangular plots. Spur roads run out at right angles, to the south towards the river, to the north up the slope of Broom Hill.

Land for development was sold in larger plots than had been available nearer the town centre. This made the laying out of long, straight streets easier, and the reproduction of standard house unit designs. Maps from the 1880s show, however, that the pattern of development was piecemeal; individual or semi detached plots were developed alongside terraces, and 3 many plots remained empty. Middle class villas sit alongside more modest housing with names such as ‘Persevering Terrace’. Substantial redevelopment is unlikely in this dense suburban neighbourhood. However, individual plots or smaller sites may become available and in these cases proposals should respect the scale and urban grain of the area, in particular ensuring active street frontage and continuity of the existing building line. The mixed architectural 4 character is robust enough to absorb a variety of architectural styles, including modern design.

A shortcoming in the area is the lack of landmark buildings. This significantly reduces the legibility of the gridlike street layout. Development proposals which can add landmarks visible over rooftops and along streets could make a contribution to the area, though the design brief for such features should emphasise design quality and distinctiveness rather than bulk or height.

1 Norwich Road. The largest 2 Broom Hill Road. Many of 3 Kitchener Road. Many of the 4 Bramford Road / Richmond houses in the area are built in the typical features of the area features of the larger houses Road. Former off licence, now the most visible locations, are visible in this street; bay are repeated in the nearby a corner shop. The area has facing the main roads. This windows, decorative stone streets. Here, decorative well established local centres group of terraced properties is lintels over windows and stonework and bay windows and services and the terraced ‘bookended’ by octagonal paired front doors, enclosed are a feature, as well as layout has proved adaptable to corner bay windows with front gardens. Because of the ornamental brick garden walls. changing retail conditions. conical roofs, overlooking rising ground level, the original Conservation of these details adjoining road junctions. slate roofs, leadwork and is an important aspect of chimney stacks are protecting the areas special conspicuous. character. NORWICH ROAD CHARACTER AREA CHARACTER SUB AREA - NORWICH ROAD/BRAMFORD ROAD 11

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1 Norwich Road. The changes in architectural fashion at the end of the Victorian era Paired doorways are a characteristic feature, leading to hallways. They allowed for encouraged fresh thinking about housing architectural expression, for instance carved lintels or decorative canopies. design and layout. These unusual Suffolk white brick villas are located at the corner of Norwich Road and Kitchener Road.

2 Entrance detail 5 3 Arts and Crafts detailing on a house (now an opticians) facing Norwich Road

4 Norwich Road. Speculative builders were always looking for cost saving innovations. These dormer windows facing Norwich road are made of cast iron, though it is unclear if they were made locally.

The materials palette is based on combinations of 5 Protection of the area’s distinctive red brick with a range of other materials, for character depends to a large extent on instance stone, tile and terracotta. Modern investment by private owners. Public and development should follow this pattern, or provide private sector development proposals needs a clear justification if contrasting materials are to take into account the fine grain of detail proposed. and design that has been preserved.